Man held for rape of minor girl

Pune: Samarth police on Thursday arrested a 32-year-old man from Nana Peth for raping a nine-year-old daughter of his neighbour.
The sexual assault occurred on Wednesday afternoon at the suspect’s house. He has been charged under section 376 (rape) of the Indian Penal Code and the relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The girl’s mother lodged a complaint with police after the terrorised girl narrated the incident to her.
An official from Samarth Police Station said that on Wednesday afternoon the suspect called the girl to his home under the pretext of giving chocolates. “The suspect threatened the girl and raped her inside his house,” the officer said.
The officer said that the suspect threatened the girl not to divulge anything to her parents. “However, after reaching home, the girl informed her mother, who approached police,” the officer said.